Star Wars

Star Wars Episode VIII Reveals Its Official Title

**Hype intensifies**

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 23:51

Rogue One might still be in cinemas, but the Star Wars juggernaut stops for NO ONE, which is why Disney have decided the time is right to get us all hyped for the next episode in the Skywalker saga by dropping its official title. That’s right, “Episode VIII” is yesterday’s news… as of now, it’s all about Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Disney

Okay, so it’s technically still Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, but you get what we mean. In case you’ve lost track after the distraction of Rogue One, this is the next installment of the main Star Wars story, picking up with Rey, Finn, Poe and chums as they line up against Kylo Ren and the resurgent Empire.

It's official. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is the next chapter of the Skywalker saga. This December. #TheLastJedi https://t.co/ySkVwQcMTP pic.twitter.com/eHrPgbsRJq
— Star Wars (@starwars) January 23, 2017

Just who the “Last Jedi” turns out to be is up for debate. It could well be a reference to Luke Skywalker, who pitched up at the end of the last film. Or it could mean Rey, who turned out to be pretty handy with a lightsaber herself… Or maybe it means both of them? After all, the plural of “Jedi” is, er, “Jedi”.

We’ll find out for sure when the film lands later this year, in its now traditional Christmas slot. Directed by Rian Johnson and co-starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver, Star Wars: The Last Jedi will open in the UK on 15 December 2017.

- By George Wales @GeorgeWales85

2017 Movie Sequels We Seriously Can’t Wait For

T2 (Jan): Danny Boyle’s highly-anticipated sequel to Trainspotting sees all the original cast return 20 years later for a story based on Irvine Welsh’s novel: Porno.

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RE: The Final Chapter (Jan): After nearly fifteen years, the Resident Evil franchise is finally coming to an end with Alice returning to Raccoon City for one final show-down with the Umbrella Corporation.

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XXX: Return of Xander Cage (Jan): 15 years after the first film, Vin Diesel is re-prising his role as Cage to take on a new set of bad guys with a little help from Samuel L. Jackson and badass babes Ruby Rose and Nina Dobrev.

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John Wick: Chapter Two (Feb): Expect the bodies to mount up when John Wick is forced out of retirement for a second time in order to help a former associate seize control of an international assassins’ guild in Rome.

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God Particle (Feb): Don’t be fooled by this film’s title: The internet seems to think that the “shocking discovery” made by a team of astronauts in this sci-fi thriller is that they’re actually starring in a prequel to the first Cloverfield film.

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Fifty Shades Darker (Feb): Christian Grey’s past catches up with him in this much darker sequel that promises “No rules. No punishments. And no secrets!”

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Logan (Mar): After playing Wolverine for over 16 years, Hugh Jackman is finally ready to hang up his claws. But not before we get one last outing for Logan, who is joined in this third and final adventure by Xavier and a female clone of himself.

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Fast 8 (April): Straight Outta Compton's F. Gary Gray will direct Vin Diesel et al as they go head to head with Charlize Theron’s villainous Cipher. Dame Helen Mirren also joins the Fast Family, with the action taking place in New York and Cuba.

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GOTG2 (April): Marvel’s ragtag gang of space pirates explore the depths of Peter Quill’s daddy issues in this much anticipated superhero sequel which adds Kurt Russell to the cast and promises plenty of adorably awesome BABY GROOT mo-ments!

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Dead Men Tell No Tales (May): Proving there’s life in the ole sea dog yet, Captain Jack Sparrow returns for a fifth Pirates film which this time sees him sailing the high seas in search of the legendary Trident of Poseidon.

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Annabelle 2 (May): After welcoming a nun and several girls from an orphanage into their home, a dollmaker and his wife soon become terrorised by one of his creations. Can you guess what her name might be?

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Cars 3 (Jun): After a disappointing second film, Pixar are hoping to fine-tune their Cars franchise by promising an emotional third entry that replicates a lot of the fun from the first film as Lightning McQueen races around America with a new buddy.

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Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Jun): With Colin Firth’s character returning from the dead, anything is possible in this spy spoof follow-up which also promises robot dogs, one-armed henchmen, a villainous Julianne Moore, and a massive frank-furter.

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (Jul): With Spidey now a part of the Marvel universe, the prospect of another Spider-Man origin story isn’t as off putting as it should be with Tom Holland taking over the web-slinging duties and going up against the Vulture.

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Wonder Woman (Jul): After stealing the show in Batman vs Superman, Amazonian princess Diana’s first solo outing sees her leave her homeland to fight alongside fighter pilot Steve Trevor in World War 1. Expect gold bracelet sales to soar nationwide!

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War for the Planet of the Apes (Jul): Caesar and his apes are forced into war with an army of humans lead by a ruthless colonel played by Woody Harrelson in this epic threequel that will determine the fate of man and ape once and for all.

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Alien: Covenant (Aug): The second chapter in Ridley Scott's Alien prequel trilogy follows the crew of a colony ship who discover what they think is an uncharted paradise, only to discover it is very much not when they meet its sole inhabitant.

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Insidious: Chapter 4 (Oct): Lin Shaye's paranormal investigator Elise will venture into “The Further” once again in a second prequel to the first film.

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Blade Runner 2049 (Oct): Fans of this sci-fi classic may have had to wait 35 years for a sequel, but with Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford returning alongside fitties Jared Leto and Ryan Gosling, we’re sure to be in for a wild ride.

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Rings (Oct): Whilst technically more of a reboot than a straight-up sequel, Rings is said to continue on from the events of the first two Ring films that starred Naomi Watts, with a younger cast now being haunted by ghost girl Sadako.

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Thor: Ragnarok (Oct): Hunt for the Wilderpepople’s Taika Waititi directs Thor’s third solo outing which sees A-Listers Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, and Tessa Thompson joining Marvel regulars Mark Ruffalo and Tom Hiddleston for an epic battle.

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Saw: Legacy (Oct): After a seven year break from torturing audiences on Hal-loween, expect the twists and turns to be as brutal as ever in this eighth instalment of the horror franchise.

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Justice League (Nov): With Batman vs Superman and Suicide Squad disappointing fans, the thought of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg teaming up to battle evil is for sure less exciting than it once was. Kinda…

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Pitch Perfect 3 (Dec): Get ready to have a Merry Pitchmas: Miley Cyrus has apparently signed on to join the Barden Bellas for their third big screen outing! Aca-scuse us while we take a minute to process this aca-awesome news.

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Star Wars VIII (Dec): With The Force Awakens now the third most successful film of all time, the expectations for the next instalment in this Star Wars sequel trilogy are seriously high.

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24 John Boyega Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know!

He was born and raised in Saarrf Lahdan: “I’m a boy from Peckham and I’m in a Star Wars movie!”

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John’s dad Samson is a Pentecostal minister, and wanted him to be one too. He agreed to let John keep acting as long as he kept out of trouble.

Instagram / @john_boyega

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Despite his dad asking him “What is Star Wars?” after John was cast as Finn, Mr Boyega still wanted some sweet, sweet Force Awakens spoilers

Twitter / @JohnBoyega

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He has two older sisters, and often shares pics of his extremely cute nephew on Instagram #BabyFinn

Instagram / @john_boyega

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JJ Abrams handpicked him for the role of Finn after seeing John in 'Attack The Block'. But we like to think it was because of his high midichlorian count.

Instagram / @john_boyega

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He had the perfect response for idiots who questioned his casting, posting on Instagram, “To whom it may concern…get used to it.” SLAY.

Instagram / @john_boyega

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Reading the script for TFA got him in touch with his emotions, “When I read the script I cried, and I’m not really a big crier.” May we offer up a shoulder?

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But he lied to JJ when waiting to hear if he got the part, pretending he was hanging out in an art gallery rather waiting at home!

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If you were at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con, you might have brushed up against John, who admitted he wandered around the event disguised as a Stormtrooper. We just had a proper nerdgasm.

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As well as being a big Star Wars fan, JB is also a Marvel comic nerd and was keen to play Black Panther. Dear Disney: please make Finn an Avenger ASAP kthanksbye

Twitter / @JohnBoyega

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He had to be physically prised away from Chewbacca when on the TFA set, “I stroked that Wookie all the time…I just wanted to give him cuddles”

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He also does a pretty epic Chewie impression, which he’s been working on for 16 years. ROOOOAARRRRGGGGH!

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His mentor is Iron Man. Really. Robert Downey Jr regularly gives him advice

Twitter / @JohnBoyega

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Oh, and did we mention his best mate is Han Solo, AKA Harrison Ford? We have serious squad envy rn.

Instagram / @john_boyega

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When they were both in London, John treated Harrison to a Nigerian meal in Peckham. He had the soup.

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John has a pet cat called Olawulogan, or Logan for short, and he’s super cute.

Instagram / @john_boyega

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He’s a Stormtrooper of style, wearing a custom made purple Versace suit at the LA premiere of The Force Awakens. BUT DAT PURPLE GLOVE, THO

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Before Star Wars, John was cast as a young boxer in a Spike Lee pilot called 'Da Brick', but it never got picked up. Are they mad?

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The strangest gift he’s been sent by a fan was a cap with “Samurai” in Japanese written across it. He’s not said anything about the Beanie Babies we’ve been sending for over a year, though ☹

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You’ll see him again later on this year as a tech guru in The Circle, alongside Emma Watson, who he says is “Frickin’ amazing”, like we didn’t know that already.

Instagram / @john_boyega

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And what about those Finn and Poe romance rumours? Sadly, according to John it’s “all in Oscar’s (Isaacs) head” <Darth Vader-style ‘Nooooooooooo!’>

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